The Badlands Interpretive Trail is a 1.4-kilometre loop through Midland Provincial Park that begins at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, about six kilometres northwest of Drumheller on Highway 838. The museum says it takes about an hour and suits visitors of all ages, and it costs nothing. Signs along the way explain how the badlands formed, what the rock layers contain and how plants and animals survive in the dry coulees, so you are walking through the same landscape that produced the fossils in the museum. The park is day-use only, and the old Midland Coal Mine office at the park holds an interpretive display. The trail makes a natural bookend to a museum visit, when your head is full of dinosaurs and you want to see where they lived.
What to do
Walk the loop slowly and read the signs, looking for the banded rock, the dry gullies and the fragile slopes. The museum describes it as weather permitting, so it is best on a dry day. Photographers will find good light in the afternoon, when the side-lit slopes show every layer.
Practical planning
The trail starts outside the museum, so park there and walk out from the front. The museum asks visitors to stay on the trails and help preserve the area for future generations, and the clay turns slick when wet and icy in winter, so wear shoes with grip. The trail itself has no fee, but the museum has seasonal hours, and in winter it is closed on Mondays, so the car park may be quiet. Bring water, wear layers and keep to the marked route, because the slopes erode easily.
Fitting it in
Combine it with the museum, either before you go in to warm up your eyes or afterwards to stretch your legs. It is also the easiest way to see the badlands up close if you have only a short time, since you do not need to drive on to the Hoodoos or Horseshoe Canyon. Allow about an hour, and add a little more if you stop to read every sign.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided, signed 1.4-kilometre loop starting at the museum and winding through the surrounding badlands.
Best time
A dry afternoon, when side light brings out the rock layers, ideally before or after a museum visit.
How long
About an hour at a relaxed pace with time to read the signs.
Tips
Stay on the trail, wear shoes with grip, bring water and skip it when the clay is wet or icy.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Families and walkers who want a gentle badlands hike with some explanation.
- Families
- Suitable for all ages, according to the museum, though keep young children on the marked path.
- Couples
- A quiet, free walk that pairs nicely with an afternoon at the museum.
- Pair with
- The Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Little Church are the natural companions.
- Time needed
- About one hour.
Good questions
How long is the trail?+
It is a 1.4-kilometre loop that takes about an hour. It starts at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
Does it cost anything?+
The trail itself is free, although the museum has its own admission. The park is for day use only.
Is it suitable for children?+
Yes, the museum describes it as suitable for all ages. Keep young children on the marked path because the slopes are fragile.
Can I walk it in winter?+
It is weather permitting, and the clay can be slick or icy in the cold months. Wear shoes with grip and skip it if the surface is wet.
Where is it?+
It is in Midland Provincial Park, about six kilometres northwest of Drumheller on Highway 838, starting at the museum.
